Perhaps one reason why the Northern state turns a blind eye to the
naked sectarianism displayed at 11th July bonfires is the fundamentally
sectarian foundations of the British Constitution. The Act of
Settlement of 1701, the cornerstone of the British constitution,
forbids the Monarch, its spouse or any of the great office holders of
state from being a Catholic (Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after
he stood down as Prime Minister), and automatically grants seats in its
upper house to Anglican bishops. A strange traditional practice in a
country which prides itself on its secular and progressive ethos.

The burning on bonfires of the Irish national flag, the papal flag and
more recently the Polish national flag, are the highlights of the 11th
July Orange Order celebrations and are extremely offensive. One of this
year’s bonfire highlights was the image of Ulster Unionist MP Danny
Kinahan posing for photographs in front of a Co Antrim bonfire with an
Irish tricolour placed on top of it. When questioned if his actions
were appropriate Mr Kinahan replied “ This is Protestant culture, let’s
recognise each other’s cultures and get on with it.” This disgusting
behaviour does not warrant even the slightest admonition from unionist
representatives.

Every 11th night, in what can only be described as deliberate acts of
provocation, sectarian bonfires pollute not just the atmosphere but
poison community relations throughout the north. Many of these bonfires
are adorned with not just the Irish flag, but in some instances images
of murdered Catholics. Pictures of Catholic schoolboys Michael McIlveen
and Thomas Devlin, who were random victims of loyalist murderers were
placed on top of bonfires and burned, much to the approval of the local
bigots. Incredibly and bizarrely, in excess of sixty Grand Officers of
the Orange Order are also Church of Ireland ministers. One wonders to
what extent would the Church of Ireland permit its ministers to belong
to an organisation that burned effigies of Muslims, Jews or Hindus who
had been murdered because of their religion?

Nowhere else in Europe would the annual ceremonial burning of many
hundreds of the national flag of a peaceful neighbouring state go
virtually without comment.. What if every Bastille day the Union Jack
was burned across France, or if every St George’s day the flags of
Pakistan, Jamaica or Nigeria were burned in British cities?

Understandably, there would be harsh diplomatic protests and perhaps
riots in the streets. But in Northern Ireland this systematic and
deliberate incitement to hatred has been allowed to become an integral
part of unionist/ Protestant culture to such an extent that it hardly
draws comment from British secretaries of state, unionist politicians,
the media and, in particular the Irish government, who allow this annual
affront to their national flag to continue without a word of protest.

The British Government seems to be in a state of denial over its
obligations to prevent and punish such flagrant incitements to hatred.
In April 2007 Britain, along with 26 other EU countries, signed a
declaration to punish those responsible for incitement to hatred on the
grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin with terms of
imprisonment. Britain herself enacted a similar ‘Religious and Racial
Hatred Act’ in 2006.

Following the ending of the second World War in Germany, an extensive
body of legislation was put in place to outlaw all remaining elements of
anti-Jewish culture that had grown up around the Nazi party. Is it not
imperative that similar measures be introduced in the North to deal with
the endemic anti-Catholicism so prevalent in large parts of the Orange
Order facade?.

A constant media spotlight and relentless unionist condemnation might
help to change attitudes to anti-Catholicism although the fact that no
senior elected unionist is willing to enter a Catholic church, under any
circumstances, is a bad sign.The history of the Orange Order has been a
shameful litany of Protestant supremacy. The Order provides religious
camouflage for those members who wish to maintain a system of privilege
and power and defines itself more by a hatred of Catholics than a love
of Christ.

Is it not long past time that the Orange Order ceased closing its eyes
and turning its back on the actions of those associated with its yearly
marches and bonfires?